Oscillating plow and trencher combination

ABSTRACT

When a trench is to be dig for the purpose of laying pipe, cable, or tubing, the cutting mechanism includes a blade which is vibrated vertically by a suitable driving means, and which can also be adjusted horizontally to provide space through which the trenching mechanism may be moved so that it is possible to use either the trenching machine alone or the plow mechanism alone, or the use of both mechanisms simultaneously if required.

United States Patent 1191 Hansen OSCILLATING PLOW AND TRENCHER COMBINATION [76] Inventor: Robert O. Hansen, 4549 W. Rosecrans, Hawthorne, Calif. 90250 221 Filed: Oct. 20, 1971 21 Appl. 190.; 190,974

[52] US. Cl ..37./86, 37/1 17.5, 37/D1G. 3,

[51] Int. Cl. ..E02f 5/06, E02f 5/18 [58] Field of Search ..37/193, 86, 117.5,

37/DIG. 3, DIG. 6; 61/726; 172/40 [56] References Cited UNITED'STATES PATENTS 3,611,730 10/1971 Brettrager ..37/l93 X 3,550,294 12/1970 Fewell 3,474,551 10/1969 Pearson. 3,326,009 6/1967 Gagne ..37/l93 UX Apr. 17, 1973 3,201,948 8/1965 Schramm ..61/72.6 3,394,554 7/1968 Kinnan ..6l/72.6

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 6,709,788 1/1969 Netherlands, .i .151 /72.6

Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerClifford D. Crowder Attorney-Harold A. Dreckman 57 ABSTRACT I When a trench is to be dig for the purpose of laying pipe, cable, or tubing, the cutting mechanism includes a blade which is vibrated vertically by a suitable driving means, and which can also beadjusted horizontally to provide space through which the trenching mechanism may be moved so that it is possible to use either the trenching machine alone or the plow mechanism alone, or the use of both mechanisms simultaneously if required.

6' Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PAIENTEBAPR 1 7 i975 SHEET 1 OF 2 FIG.

FIG.3

FIG.2

PATENTEDAPR 1 1 ms sum 2 OF 2 FI GQ4 I WWW/NQ with or independently of the plow.

Another object of my invention is to provide a combination vibrating plow and trencher in which the trenching mechanism can function to dig a trench ahead of the plow so that both the trenching mechanism and the plow can be used simultaneously.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and theappended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of my combination vibrating plow and trencher showing the trenching mechanism in raised or traveling position.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of my combination plow and trenching mechanism showing the trencher in various positions between traveling and digging.

FIG. Sis a plan view of FIG. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the plow mechanism 1 is mounted on the mobile vehicle 2 or the frame of that vehicle. The mount for the plow mechanism 1 consists of a pair of spaced tubes 3 and 4 which are spaced horizontally and serve to secure the plow to the tractor. Each of the mounts 3 and 4 carries slidable sleeves 5 and 6, respectively, which thus rigidly support the plow mechanism 1.

The plow mechanism 1 includes a frame 7, which frame is pivotally attached to the sleeves 4 and 5 by suitable pivot bolts 8. It is obvious that the plow frame 7 can be swung around the pivots 8 by means of hydraulic cylinders 9 extending between the sleeves 5 and the frame 7.

The plow 10 is oscillated or vibrated by the mechanism 11 of the type shown in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,045,Feb. 16,1971.

The entire frame 7, together with the plow 10 and its vibrating mechanism 11, can be moved horizontally by sliding the sleeves 5 and 6 along the tubes 3 and 4. This is accomplished by the hydraulic cylinders 12l3, which cylinders are attached at one end to the frame of the mobile vehicle 2 and at the other end to the frame 7. Thus by motivating the pistons 12-13 it is possible to move the entire plow mechanism from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 to the position shown in dotted lines in that same figure. Thus the plow mechanism can be moved horizontally either towards or away from the mobile vehicle 2.

A trenching mechanism 14 is also mounted on the vehicle 2 between the sleeves 5 and 6. The trencher 14 consists of an endless belt or chain 15 which is driven by a suitable motor 16 of the usual and well known tyipe. The trencher 14 can be pivoted around the drive 0 the motor 16 to move the rencher to various positions shown in FIG. 4, either to a raised or traveling position or a lowered or digging position. The belt or chain 15 can move between the mounting sleeves 5-6 of the plow or it can be swung entirely to a lowered position when the plow is moved rearwardly to the dotted position shown in FIG. 1. The trencher 14 can be raised or lowered by means of the hydraulic cylinder Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An oscillating plow and trencher combination comprising a frame extending from a pulling vehicle, a pair of mounting tubes secured to said frame, a sleeve slidably mounted on each said tube, a plow pivotally mounted on said sleeves, oscillating drive means for said plow, an endless trenching mechanism, means pivotally mounting the trenching mechanism on said frame between said sleeves and tubes, and power means connected to the trenching mechanism to pivot said mechanism around said pivotal mounting means.

2. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, and power means engaging said sleeves to move said plow horizontally.

3. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, said trenching mechanism being positioned between the plow and the pulling vehicle.

4. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, power means engaging said sleeves to move said plow horizontally, said trenching mechanism being positioned between the plow and the pulling vehicle.

5. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, and a hydraulic cylinder engaging each said sleeve to move the same on said tubes.

6. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, and power means engaging said sleeves to move said plow horizontally, said power means comprising a hydraulic cylinder engaging each said sleeve. 

1. An oscillating plow and trencher combination comprising a frame extending from a pulling vehicle, a pair of mounting tubes secured to said frame, a sleeve slidably mounted on each said tube, a plow pivotally mounted on said sleeves, oscillating drive means for said plow, an endless trenching mechanism, means pivotally mounting the trenching mechanism on said frame between said sleeves and tubes, and power means connected to the trenching mechanism to pivot said mechanism around said pivotal mounting means.
 2. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, and power means engaging said sleeves to move said plow horizontally.
 3. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, said trenching mechanism being positioned between the plow and the pulling vehicle.
 4. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, power means engaging said sleeves to move said plow horizontally, said trenching mechanism being positioned between the plow and the pulling vehicle.
 5. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, and a hydraulic cylinder engaging each said sleeve to move the same on said tubes.
 6. An oscillating plow and trencher as recited in claim 1, and power means engaging said sleeves to move said plow horizontally, said power means comprising a hydraulic cylinder engaging each said sleeve. 